Gordon Strachan cut a relaxed figure as he began preparing his Scotland side for the toughest challenge of his reign ahead of their clash with England.

Strachan finds his position under real threat following a dismal start to their qualification campaign, with the Scots sitting fourth in Group F after just one win in their opening three matches.

A heavy 3-0 defeat to Slovakia in Trnava last month prompted questions about the former Celtic and Southampton manager's future, but Strachan's mind seemed more focused on perfecting his golf swing than devising a plan to overcome the Auld Enemy as his squad trained at Mar Hall.

Gordon Strachan shares a joke with his coaching team as they prepare to face England

The Scotland boss even found time to practice his golf swing as his side trained at Mar Hall

The players warmed up in picturesque surroundings at the complex just outside of Glasgow

The Scotland boss was in high spirits and was pictured joking with his backroom staff against the picturesque backdrop of the river Clyde.

But his players will know that the size of their task ahead at Wembley is no laughing matter, and the likes of Barry Bannan, Matt Ritchie and Steven Naismith were all out to impress and secure their place in the starting XI.

One problem that Strachan will not find funny is the knee injury suffered by Steven Fletcher. The striker is Scotland's biggest injury concern ahead of their crunch clash with England after Scott Brown was cleared to make his international comeback.

The squad is led by Fulham's Chris Martin on a run as they prepare for the trip to Wembley

Matt Ritchie will be hoping to replicate his form with Championship leaders Newcastle

Share this article

Share

Brown, who has reversed his international retirement for Friday's World Cup qualifier, went off with a dead leg during Celtic's victory over Inverness on Saturday but is confident of being available for selection.

However, Fletcher picked up a knock on his knee during Sheffield Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Ipswich and is being assessed by the Scotland medical staff.

When asked about Brown during a media open day at Mar Hall, assistant manager Mark McGhee said: 'He had a bit of a dead leg but I don't think there is any concern about his fitness.

'Steven Fletcher, there is a little bit of concern about him but other than that, everyone else is okay to go. The ones who trained today played on Saturday and the ones who played on Sunday will train tomorrow.'

Fletcher started up front in Scotland's 3-0 defeat against Slovakia in their previous qualifier, after replacing Fulham's Chris Martin in the team.

Leigh Griffiths came off the bench in each of the last two games, against Lithuania and Slovakia, while Naismith has been struggling for game time for Norwich in recent weeks.

McGhee revealed Andy Murray was expected to be among more than 13,000 Scotland fans at Wembley and he called upon the players to take inspiration from the Wimbledon champion's advancement to No 1 in the world tennis rankings.

Steven Naismith (second from left) has struggled for playing time with Norwich this season

Scotland's squad enjoyed the sunshine on the west coast as they were put through their paces

The Motherwell manager said: 'Even better than that, my understanding is that he is coming to the game.

'For the players to know that he is up there and for the players to replicate some sort of the achievement that he has, I think every single one of them are huge Andy Murray fans and total respect the achievement of what he has done for himself and the country.

'To emulate that in some way would be just fantastic.'

McGhee feels the players have shaken off the disappointment of dropping five points in last month's double-header.

'I understand why there was negativity but I think what we have met is a group of players, as far as I can sense, who have an absolute appetite for this game,' the former Aberdeen, Celtic and Newcastle striker said.

'They want to bounce back from the disappointment of those two results. They are prepared to go into this game knowing that a result would be a fantastic achievement for us but believing that we can get a result.

'Regardless of previous results, when this draw was made, that was the standout fixture, that was the fixture I wanted to be part of more than any other. So this is it.

'Regardless of the circumstances of where we are in the group, I don't think we would want to go there and win any less than we do because of the circumstances of the group at the moment. It is just a fixture that looks after itself.'

McGhee, who scored Scotland's goal in their 1-1 draw with England in 1984 from a cross from current manager Gordon Strachan, added: 'We have a huge support going there, that is the focus for us.

'The game being against England and the fact that we have something like 13,000 supporters going there, we want to give them something.

'More than anything I think the manager, and I would imagine the players as well, but I know that in particular the manager wants to give them something and a result there against England would be the perfect result.'

Steven Fletcher started Scotland's last qualifier in Slovakia but is a doubt with a knee injury